Gogglebox star reveals life-changing health diagnosis he's 'hidden for decades'

Metro

a day ago

Former Gogglebox star Daniel Lustig-Webb has publicly shared that he is deaf in one ear after decades of hiding his health condition.
The 50-year-old TV personality rose to fame during his five-year tenure on the hit Channel 4 reality series which he featured on with his ex-husband Stephen Webb from 2018 to 2023.
Earlier this week he opened up to his 121,000 Instagram followers about the life-changing childhood diagnosis that has 'shaped his life'.
'I've been half deaf since I was a child,' he said in a new interview.
He explained that he contracted mumps when he was younger causing an infection which ultimately led to 'complete and permanent hearing loss in one ear.'
Before continuing to Scenemag: 'For years, I hid it. I didn't want people to see me as 'different' or less capable. At school, it was tough, I was often picked on and teachers told me I was 'thick' because I struggled to concentrate, not realising it was because I couldn't hear properly.
'It made me really insecure. I thought I was just failing.'
He described trying to keep up in social situations 'exhausting' due to his condition and has at times been 'forced to pretend' he could hear what people were saying which took 'its toll'.
'I've had to learn to listen differently, and sometimes I just switch off,' the Hove-based hairdresser added.
'I feel ready to be open about it. At 50, I feel like it's finally time to stop hiding and to be proud of who I am,' he explained alongside his plans to learn sign language to connect with the wider community.
'Deafness isn't a weakness, it's part of me,' Daniel shared hoping to shed light on the 'isolation and frustration' that comes with being hard of hearing.
'It's part of millions of lives. And it should be talked about openly, without shame,' he continued.
The latest figures from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People indicating upwards of 18 million adults across the UK are affected by hearing loss or tinnitus.
As he enters a new decade he is 'learning to love and accept all parts of [himself]'.
Fans have shared their support for Daniel in the comments on Instagram.
'You should never hide yourself you are a beautiful person inside and out,' jopurdy2 said.
'Be proud and loud, love and hugs,' kim.mooney.779 shared.
Earlier this year, Daniel opened up about the impact of his breakup with his ex, Stephen.
The pair – who had been together for 11 years and married for six – announced their shock break-up in April 2024 but have remained in each other's lives as friends. More Trending
In recent interview, however, Daniel revealed that he 'didn't see [the split] coming' and called the end of their relationship 'devastating' and 'traumatic'.
Speaking on podcast Suddenly Single, he said: 'We were completely entwined for so long, with our businesses, the dogs, we were so close in everything we did.
'There was nothing underhand happening, no-one had slept with anyone else.'
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In the end, their differences became too much with Daniel adding: 'Stephen was the complete opposite to me, and we'd say opposites attracted, but fundamentally that was our problem in the end.'
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